Graduated universal valve for gas appliances with ported sleeve



Sept. 1, 1953 1. v. BRUMBAUGH GRADUATED UNIVERSAL VALVE FOR GASAPPLIANCES WITH PORTED SLEEVE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 6, 1948 IN VENTOR.

ISAAC VERNON BRUMBAUGH Sept. 1, 1953 l. v. BRUMBAUGH 2,650,610

GRADUATED UNIVERSAL VALVE FOR GAS APPLIANCES WITH PORTED SLEEVE FiledFeb. 6. 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 h A I a a 8 Bl I? a a) w I n E J 8 I E iiv.0 m G w o 5% a a: a n a: a: E; 5; o I I I I I I I bi] I- ---l'- A $5INVENTOR.

ISAAC VERNON BRUMBAUGH- Sept. 1, 1953 1. v. BRUMBAUGH GRADUATEDUNIVERSAL VALVE FOR GAS APPLIANCES WITH PORTED SLEEVE 5 Sheets-Sheet 15Filed Feb. 6. 1948 w R. Uv w m 1 m m V c m. m2 E A 2 2E Q E m2 m8 N2 in2 E N A/A m: 3: wt 2 E EH 2% a Q m2 W3 84 B m mm.

TTURNE) Patented Sept. 1, 1953 GRADUATED UNIVERSAL VALVE FOR GASAPPLIANCES WITH PORTED SLEEVE Isaac Vernon Brumbaugh, Clayton, Mo.

Application February 6, 1948, Serial No. 6,719

6 Claims.

The invention described in this application relates to valves. The valvedisclosed and described herein in illustration of the invention isespecially designed for use in controlling a cooking top burner of akitchen range but it is to be understood that the inventions involvedclearly have other uses. Thus the inventions involved are also useful inthe control of gas oven burners. They may be used for control of gasoutside of the cooking field. They may even be used for the control ofother fluids.

The valve illustrated is designed so that not only may the gas be turnedon and oil? but also the size of the flame may be varied as the valve isrotated from the on position to the oif position or from the ofiposition to the on position or from the on position to the simmerposition, etc. For example as illustratedthe size of the gas flame maybe decreased in a uniform gradual manner from an on or maximum flowposition down to a condition in which I the flame will provide onlyenough heat to cause the material being cooked to boil gently or simmerand then to the closed or off position. On the other hand if desired Imay of course modify the design in an obvious manner to provide similarvalves in which the valve may be turned from the "ofF position directlyto the on position and then turned gradually from the on positiondecreasing gradually through an infinite number of positions to thesimmer position.

Prior hereto the large majority of gas valves (especially valves forcontrolling the cooking top burners of gas ranges) have been producedwith a single port which may be opened or closed so that in the openposition there is substantially a full flow of gas and in the closedposition there is no flow of gas. As the ports are brought from exactregistration to the closed position there is a decrease in the size ofthe flames produced with such prior art valves but inasmuch as thecontrol is not usually accurate nordeflnite with f such prior artvalves, the operator has to be very careful to prevent turning the gascompletely off or to such a loW position that the flame will go out. Inorder to obviate this difliculty designers have designed valves with aplurality of different sized ports through which gas may flow. These areusually complicated and expensive to manufacture and some are verydifllcult to control.

My inventions are especially important where used in connection with agas having a high heating value (i. e. high B. t. u. rating) such as theliquid petroleum gases (e. g. butane and propane), and also the naturalgases. With such 2 gases it is especially diflicult with a single portto obtain a simmer flame without inadvertently extinguishing the flameentirely. The prior art valves heretofore referred to, which are formedwith a plurality of ports, are not always satisfactory with all types ofgases because of their wide range in heating values, specific gravitiesand distribution pressures. The table given in my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 776,687, filed September 29, 1947, gives theapproximate statistics for various types of gas and illustrates the widedifferences in these important characteristics thereof. Not only the B.t. u. value of the gas, but also the specific gravity thereof and thedistribution pressure under which the gas is supplied, affect theadjustment of the valve. Wherever used hereafter in this specificationand claims I intend the words heating value or heat value to beconstrued to mean heating value, specific gravity of gas and/ordistribution pressure thereof, etc.

Another disadvantage of the prior art valves employing a plurality ofports is that rotation of the valve produces a series of flames ofdiiferent sizes by steps while by the operation of my valve disclosedherein I may produce a slowly varying gradual uniform turn down flame.

In the valve described and shown in this application in illustration ofmy invention, instead of providing a plurality of ports each controlledby a separate valve member I provide a valve plug with a tapered portand a cup like sleeve which has a relatively large opening and also agradually tapering slot. This sleeve and the plug may be rotatedrelative to each other so that either the relatively large opening orportions of the tapered slot will register with the tapered port of theplug valve. Thus gas may flow through the port of the plug valve andthen depending on the setting of the valve either through a selectedportion of the tapered slot or the large opening of the sleeve into theinterior of the sleeve and thence to the burner. I provide means forrotating the plug valve so that different portions of the slot'of thesleeve register with the port thereof and so that the amount of gassupplied to the burner may be infinitely varied. I also provide means bywhich the longitudinal position of the sleeve may be varied relative tothe plug valve so that the simmer position flame and the other positionflames may all be adjusted to compensate for gases of different heatingvalues, specific gravities and distribution pressures. The means forchanging the longitudinal position of the sleeve differs in the two wisefarther than the off" position or counter clockwise farther, than the.-on" position. A spring 90 bearing at its forward end on the sleeve 81maintains the plug in the casing 62. The casing 63 is also formed witha-cut out portion or opening 9I through which access may be obtained forthe purpose of adjusting the screw 14 as desired. It is to be noted inthis connection that the opening 9| is arranged in such position thatthe screw is in position for adjustment through the slot 9| when andonly when the plug 10 and the sleeve cooperate to allow a minimum flowof gas (i. e. the simmer set position).

Relatively large screw 92 and relatively small screw 93 are provided tohold the cover 63 to the main casing 62; the screws being of difierentsize so that improper assembly is impossible.

As shown in Fig. 2 the valve may be assembled, if desired, with a rangehaving a front plate 93. Primary air adjustment in the mixing tube 68may be obtained by the adjustment -of a plate In Figures 9, 10 and 11another valve illustrating my invention is shown. Therein the casing I62is joined to the cover I63 and has a tapered bore into which the taperedplug I10 extends. It is provided with an inlet boss I66. The nozzle I64is provided with an orifice cap I65 which extends into a mixing tubeI68. In the central recess I1I is a sleeve I15. Onto the forwardlyextending stem I12 is an operating knob I13. Threaded concentricallythrough the stem I12 and through the sleeve I15 is an adjusting screwI14 on the rear end of which is a nut I16 which bears on a hardenedwasher H61) in turn bearing on the base of the sleeve I15. Surroundingthe screw I14 within the recess I1I is a spring I11 which bears on ahardened washer I14a and maintains the sleeve I15 in contact with thewasher I16b in turn bearing on the nut I16. A spring I98 bears on theplug I10 and on the stop sleeve I81. The projection I88 on the stopsleeve I81 cooperates with stop I89 to limit rotation of the plug. Atubular member I80 with a pair of keys I83 and I84 is press fitted intonozzle I64 so that the keys I83 and I84 fit into slots I85 and I86formed in the end of the sleeve I15 and prevent rotation of the sleeveI15. Because of the difference in'the size of the keys I83 and I84 theyalso prevent improper assembly.

Otherwise the sleeve' I15 is like the sleeve 15 being formed with alarge slot I8I and a tapered slot I82 which both cooperate with thetapered port I19 and the groove I18 formed in the plug I10.

Operation The operation of the valves described above are as follows:

The valve 6| is installed with a range a shown in Fig. 2. The knob 13 isturned to the full on position. The orifice cap 65 is adjusted on thenozzle extension 64 to allow the passage of the proper amount of gas forthe type of burner used (about 9000 B. t. u. per hour for a regularburner and 12,000 B. t. u. per hour for a giant burner). Then the airshutter 84 is adjusted on the mixing tube 68 to obtain the proper typeof flame for most eflicient operation. The knob 13 is then turned sothat the indication sim (i. e. simmer) is brought into registration withthe pointer 96 (i. e. the position illustrated). This brings the screw14 into registration with the cut out portion 9|. The knob isremoved'and the screw 14 is then adjusted to move the sleeve 15longitudinally and to secure a correct simmer flame (i. e. about 1500 B.t. u. per hour for a regular burner and about 2000 B. t. u. per hour fora giant burner). This gives the exactly correct adjustments for both thefull on position and the simmer position. The intermediate positions arethus automatically adjusted. It will be noted that an infinitelyvariable flame of any desired size may be obtained between on and sim,it not being necessary to move to the exact positions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,and 8. These indications are helpful in adjusting the flame for cookingbut obviously any desired number of intermediate positions could beindicated. Even if no intermediate numbered positions were indicated,the operation of the burner would be the same. In cooking operations,the valve is turned from the oil position to any desired on position. Itis to be especially noted that rotation of the knob 13 turns the plug 10but does not turn the sleeve 15 which is held against rotation by theprojections 83 and 84. Preferably it is turned to the position indicatedon. When the valve is in the off position (i. e. about 45 clockwise fromthe positions shown in Figs, L and 8) the groove 18 does not registerwith the bore 66. Thus no gas may flow from the bore 88 (which isconnected with the inlet gas manifold) into the valve. If the valve plugis then turned counterclockwise to the on position, a full flow of gasflows from the manifold through the bore 80, the registering port 1'9and large opening 8i into the interior of the sleeve 15 and thencethrough the nozzle 64, the orifice cap 65, the mixing tube 68 and to theburner. In this open position of the valve, the gas is automaticallylighted, where flash tube lighting is provided, or it may be lighted inany other convenient manner. The valve may be left in such position tosecure a maximum flame or may then be turned clockwise to the simmer simposition or to any intermediate position to secure any other desiredflame. It should be noted that the size of the flame is infinitelyvariable between the simmer flame and the full flame. As the flame isturned down the supply of gas is restricted not only by the continuouslysmaller width of the slot 82 but also by the continuously smaller width(lengthwise of the slot 82) of the tapered portion of the port 19 (seeFig. 3).

In the valve shown in Figs. 9-11, the operation is the same except asfollows: The position of sleeve I15 longitudinally of the plug I16 isadjusted (after the knob I13 is brought to the simmer position andremoved), by rotation of the screw I14 during which operation and at allother times the sleeve I15 is held against rotation by the keys I83 andI84.

The embodiments of the valve disclosed herein are also disclosed and areclaimed broadly in application Serial No. 66,710, filed December 22,1948, which is intended to include claims generic to the inventionsdisclosed herein. Said application Serial No. 66,710 also disclosesembodiments of my invention disclosed in my application Serial No.776,687, filed September 29, 194.6, and in my application Serial No.27,167 filed May 15, 1948.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiments of myinvention are for the purpose of illustration only and various changesmay be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

I claim;

' 1. A valve comprising a hollow valve casing having an inlet port andan outlet port, a stationary member positioned in said hollow and arotative member also positioned in said hollow and associated with thestationary member, the rotative member being formed with a tapered portand the stationary member being formed with an elongated sloping surfacewhich at times lies contiguous to and cooperates with said port toeffect a gradual adjustment of the flow of fluid through said valve,said stationary member and said rotative member comprising means formetering the amount of liquid flowing from said inlet port to saidoutlet port and said gradual adjustment of the flow being effected bythe position of said tapering port relative to said elongated slopingsurface.

2. A valve comprising a casing formed with an inlet port and an outletport; a hollow rotatable plug fitted for rotation in said casing, formedwith an external groove registering at times with said inlet port, andformed with a tapered port connected to said groove and extendingthrough the wall of said plug from the hollow to the othercircumferential surface thereof; and a hollow sleeve open at one end,positioned within the hollow of said plug, and formed with an elongatedsloping slot extending through a wall of said sleeve and registering attimes with said tapered port; and means for holding said sleeve againstrotation so that rotation of said plug moves said tapered port and saidslot into and out of registration.

3. A valve comprising a hollow casing formed with an inlet port and anoutlet port; a hollow stationary valve member positioned in said casingand formed with a port extending through a side wall thereof; and ahollow rotative valve member associated with said stationary valvemember and also formed with a port extending through a side wallthereof, and movable into and out of partial and full registration withthe port in said stationary valve member, the port of the hollowrotative valve member having tapered arcual sides, and the port of thehollow stationary valve member comprising a slot having a slopingsurface, which slot at times registers with, is contiguous to, andcooperates with the port in the hollow rotative valve member to effect agradual adjustment of the flow of gas through said valve,

4. A valve comprising a hollow casing formed with an inlet port and anoutlet port; a hollow stationary valve member positioned in said casingand formed with a port extending through a side wall thereof; a hollowrotative valve member associated with said stationary valve member andalso formed with a port extending through a sidewall thereof, andmovable into and out of partial and full registration with the port insaid stationary valve member, the port of the hollow rotative valvemember having tapered arcualsides, and the port of the hollow stationaryvalve member comprising a slot having a sloping surface, which slot attimes registers and cooperates with the port in the hollow rotativevalve member to effect a gradual adjustment of the flow of gas throughsaid valve; and additional means for adjusting said valve membersrelative to each other along a line substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the rotative member.

5. A valve comprising a casing formed with an inlet opening andlanoutlet opening, a hollow rotatable plug positioned therein and formedwith a concentric recess'at its rearward end and with a full sized portextending from the circumferential surface thereof through the side wallto the recess, a hollow sleeve open at its rearward end positioned insaid recess and formed with a slot with a sloping side and with a fullsized oblong port extending through a side wall thereof nonrestrictiveto the flow of fluid and registering at times with the port in the plugand means for moving said ports into and out of registration.

6. A valve comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a hollowtapered rotatable plug positioned therein and formed with a concentricbore and with a recess and formed with a port extending through a sidewall thereof from the outer circumferential surface to said recess, asleeve positioned in said recess and formed with a port extendingthrough a wall thereof and moving at times into and out of partial andfull registration with the port in said plug, a spring resilientlyurging said sleeve longitudinally of said recess and means, comprising ascrew threaded through said bore and bearing on said sleeve, for movingsaid sleeve longitudinally against the urging of said spring.

ISAAC VERNON BRUMBAUGH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,707,007 Harper Mar. 26, 1929 1,766,674 Moore June 24, 19301,898,952 Gray Feb. 21, 1933 1,916,616 Boyd July 25, 1933 1,952,683Resek Mar. 27, 1934 2,120,864 Kagi Jan. 14, 1938 2,140,292 Jensen Dec.13, 1938 2,259,592 Suvak Oct. 21, 1941

